Motor-starter.



No. 883,956.. 1 PATRNTBD ATR. '1, 1908.

. A. J. BURTON. l

, MOTOR STARTER.

APPLTUATION TILRD JUNE 13,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' 1 PATENTEDAPRJ1808. No 888,958 A. L BURTON" l M0888 STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED .Tl-INE 13,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET y 2.

- UNITED sTATjas PATENT oEEicE.

. ALBERT .1. IIORTON, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE OUTLER-IIAMMER MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MOTOR-STARTER T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. HoRToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at White Plains, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor-Starters, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accom anying drawing, forming a part of this speci `oation.

My invention relates to improvements in motor starters, and more particularly to improvements in that type known as compound starters, which are arranged to control resistance in both the armature and shunt field circuit of the motor.

In compound motor starters heretofore constructed, it has been necessary that the operator move two distinct arts of the controller, namely, a starting ever or arm for starting the motor and bringing it to speed, and a second lever inserting resistance in circuit with the field, that is, 1t has been necessary for the operator to handle each of these levers separately. Under these conditions', it has been possible for the operator to leave the startinglever in an intermediate position, and move the lever controlling the field resistance to insert resistance in the field circuit, wherebyithe field will be weakened with resistance still in the armature circuit,

It is one of the objects of my invention to overcome objections of the above character to motor starters, and to construct a starter whereby the field resistance cannot be inserted in circuit until all of the armature resistance has been removed from` circuit.

Furthermore, it is one of the objects of m invention to provide a motor starter in whic it isA never necessary to operate more than one handle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a motor starter which will prevent the admitting of excessive current to the motor armature by too rapidlyremoving the resistance therefrom.

Other objects of my invention Will appear more fully in the detailed description thereof, and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown the construction which I have worked out as the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in said drawings, Figure 1 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 13, 1906.

Patented April 7, 1908.

serai No. 321,566.

front elevation of my device Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 `is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arrangement of my device.

Ink the construction of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, upon a suitable base 1, and mounted contacts 2, which extend throu h the base and are suitably connectedwit a resistance 3 wound upon a suitable supporting plate 4, which is preferably made up of porcelain or other suitable material, carried in a starting box 6, to which the base 1 is secured. The first three of these contacts, however, are not connected with the resistance and are therefore dead. A second set of contacts 5 are also mounted upon the vfront of the base 1, and

are connected with a resistance 7 also mounted in the box 6. A third contact 8, preferably in the form of a brass sector, is also carried upon the front of the base 1, and is of such length that when the brush 9 is moved to the extreme right, it will not be in contact with the same.

A suitable brush 9 mounted upon a lever 10 is arran ed toy sweep over and make contact witht e contacts 5, this brush being of such width that at the same time it will also engage the sector'8. The lever 10 is pivoted upon a suitable support or pivot 11, projecting from the base 1, and a spring 12; coiled around the pivot and having one end connected to the base 1, and the other connected to the lever normally holds the-lever at its extreme os'ition to the left against the stop 13, in the off position. U on the upper face of the lever 10a air o postsi 14, roject which are provide with openings t irough whichis adapted to extend a rod 15, the outer end of which carries a catch 16. The rod 15 f is movably mounted in the posts or supports 14, and is held at its innermost position by a coiled spring 17, interposed between one of the sto s 14 and a pin 18 passing through said rod.` second lever 19 is also pivotally mounted upon the post 11 above said lever 10 carrying a brush 20, which .is arranged to sweep over the contacts 2, a handle 21 being mounted on said lever by which the same may be moved. On the underside of the lever 19 is rigidly mounted a dog 22 having a shoulder 23 which, when the catch 16 is 1n its outermost position, will engage kthe square rear and attract the armature 27 which is pivotedr at 28, to one of its pole pieces. The4 armature 27 has an extension 29 extending 'between the levers 1() and 19, andthe extreme end of this extension is arranged to engage the lower end of the rod 15 and move the catch to its outermost position when the armature is attracted by the magnet 26, o r, when the lever 10 is at the extreme left or off position, the spring `30, mounted on said armature, is placed under tension by engagement with the shoulder25, which raises the extension 29 and in turn moves the catch to its outermost position.. Immediately above the retaining magnet 26 a dog 31 is pivotally'mounted u on a small post 32, the dog being held at the limit of its downward movement by means of a spring 33 coiled about said post, and having one end connected to the base 1, and the other end to the dog 31. This dog when the catch 16 is in its outermost position, due to the' raising of the. armature 27 by the magnet 26, is adapted to engage the catch and hold the lever 10 at the limit of its movement to the right, or in the on position.

An overioad coil 34 is mounted at the lower left-hand corner of the basel, the core 35 of which, when attracted by the coil, is. adapted to engage and move a spring switch arm 36 mounted upon a stud 37 carried by the base. A second sprinfxr switch arm 38 mounted upon a stud 39 carried by the base is adapted to be engaged by a projection on the arm 36 when the armis'raised by the core 35 and be moved out of engagement with acontact 40 also mounted u on the base 1. The extent of movement oi t ie core 35 is controlled by the set-screw. 41 passing through a support 42,

carried on an arm 43 secured to the overload magnet 34. Binding posts 44, 45 and 46 are.

also mounted upon the base 1, to which the armature of the motor, the iield of the motor, and one of the line wires may be connected.

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the electrical connections between the various parts oi. the motor starter and the electrical connections extendingl between said starter and the motor. In said gure the last one of the contacts 2 which are connected to the sections of resistance 3 is connected by the conductor 48 with the contact sector 8. Th is contact sector in turn is connected by the conductor 4 9 with the switch 38. -The contact 40 of this switch is connected by conductor 59 with one terminal of the retaining The lever 10 i magnet 26, the opposite terminal of`said retaining maghet being connectedvb conductor 51 with the bindin vpost 46. he switch arm 36 is connected gy the Iconductor 52 with the binding ost 46. The last one of the contacts 5, w ich are connected to the sections of the armatureresistance 7, is connected by the conductor 53l withonet'erminal of the overload magnet 34, the opposite terminal of said magnet lbeing connected by conductor 54 with the` binding post 44. The hubs of the levers 10 and 19 are connected by the conductor 55 with the binding post 45.

One terminal of the armature 56 is connected by the conductor 57 with the bindin post 44 on thestarter, the opposite terminz of the armature being connected by conductor 58 with one side 59 of the line. vOne terminal of the field Winding 60 of the motor is connected by conductor 61 with the bindin post 46, the opposite terminal of said fiel winding being connected with the side 59 of the line. The binding post 45 is connected by conductor 62 with the opposite side 63 of 'the line.

In operation, assuming that the levers 10 `and 19 are in position shown in Fig. 1, in

vof these contacts bein dead, circuit will be first closed from the ine 63,"by conductor 62, binding post 45, conductor 55, arm 10, brush 9, contact sector 8, conductor 49, switch 38, contact 40, conductor 50, through the retaining magnet 26, thence by conductor 517 binding ost 46, conductor 61, through the field wlnin 60, and back to the opposite side 59 of the ine. The closing of t e circuit through the retaining magnet 26 causes the sameto attract its armature 27, which will hold the catch 16 in its outermost osition, although the shoulder 25, after the ever has been moved to the first of the contacts 5, will be disengaged from the spring 30. As soon as the brush 9 makes contact with the second of the contacts 5, the armature circuit will be immediately closed, this circuit bein traced as follows: From the line 63, by'con uctor 62, binding ost 45, conductor 55, arm or lever 10, brus 9, one of the contacts 5,l through the resistance 7, conductor 53, through the overload magnet 34, conductor 54, binding post 44, conductor 57,

through the armature 56, conductor 58, back to the opposite side 59 of the line. The circuit through the armature bein closed, the motorvwill immediately start and build up in speed as the arm 10 isl moved to the right to cut out the resistance 7. When the arm 10' Line 63, conductor 62, binding post 45, conductor 55, lever 19, brush 20, one of the contacts 3, conductors 48 and 49, switch 38, conductor 50, through the retaining magnet 26, conductor 51, binding post 46, conductor 61, through the field 50 and back to the opposite side 59 of the line. Under these-'connitions, the lever 19 may be now moveLtLLthe left, whereby the resistance 3 will be inserted in circuit with the field, `thus weakening the field and the speed of the motor will thereby be increased,

If, while moving the arms 19 and 10 to the right, in removing the resistance 7 from the armature circuit, the operator should move the arms so rapidly that the current becomes too excessive, the overload magnet 34 will respond and attract its core, which will engage the switch 86, moving the same upward in the projection thereof, will engage the switch 38, moving the same off of the contact 40, establishing the following circuit: Line 63, conductor 62, binding post 45, conductor 55, arm 10, brush 9, contact sector 8, conductor 49, switch 38, switch 36, conductor 52, binding post 46, conductor 61, through thefield 60 and back to the opposite side 59 of the line. This short-circuits the magnet 26, causing the same to release its armature 27, which, in turn, will permit the spring 17 to move the catch 16 inward, disengaging the same from the dog 23 and permittin the arm 10 to fly back under the impulse o the spring 12 to theofl position. In order to bring the arm 10 forward again, it will be necessary to return the arm 19 to the ofi' 7 position and the operation'of starting the motor re eated. It will thus be observed that it will be impossible for the operator to remove the armature resistance from. circuit too rapidly.

In event, while the motor is operating, an

overload occurs, the abovecircuit will be es-v tablished by the operation of the overload magnet and the arm 1() will be permitted to fly back to its off position under the. infiueiice of the s p rin'g 12, or, in event the cir cuit is opened by an. independent switch in the line, the retaining magnet will be denergized, permitting the spring 17 to vretract the catch 16, disengaging it from the dog 31 and the arm will Lfly back to its off posi tion.

Having thus described my .invention what has been moved to they claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. The combination with a inotoi', of a starting resistance therefor, a movable meinber for. removing said resistance from the i circuit, means for removing said member to a predetermined position, means independent of said first-mentioned means for holding saidinemberin said predetermined position, and means to automatically returnV said member` to its initial position in event said resistance yis removed too rapidly from the motor circuit.y

2. The. combination with a motor, of a starting resistance therefor, a movable meinber for removing said resistance from circuit, means for removing said member' to la predetermined position, mean's independent of said first-mentioned means for holding said member in said predetermined position, and means for lautomatically returning said meinber tol its initial position in event an abnormal current flows through the motor.

3. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling saidv resistance, means for moving said member ,to a predetermined position,

means independent of said first-mentioned means for holding said member in said prei determined position, and means for automatically returning said member toits initial position inde endently of the movement given thereto y the operator, in event said resist-ance is removed too rapidly from the motor circuit.

4. Thecombination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for con trolling said resistance, means for moving said member to a predetermined position,

means independent of said first-mentioned means for holding said member in a predetermined position, and means for removing said member from the control of the operator and automatically returning the same to its initial position, in event of an excessive flow of current through the motor.

5. The combinationwith a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said resistance, means tending to vkeep, said member in its initial position, a

second movable member for operating said first member, means for operatively connecting said members, means for holding said 'first movable rmember in a predetermined position, and means for disconnecting said members to permit said first member to return to its initial position in event of aiiexcessive flow `of current through said motor.

6. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling sai-l' resistance, a second movablek ,member` for operating said first movable member,electromagnetic means for operal tively connecting said members, means for yholding said first movable member in a predetermined position, and means for rendering said electromagnetic means inoperative fo permit said movable member to return to its initiai position in event of an excessive flow of current through said motor.

7. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling` said resistance, means tending to retain said movable member in its initial position, a second movable member for o erating said first member, an electromagnet or operatively connecting said members, means for holding said first member in a predetermined position, and means for rendering said magnet inoperative to permit said first member to return to its initial position in event of an excessive f'low of current through the motor.

8. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling sail resistance, means tending to retain said member in its initial position, a second movable member for o erating said first mentioned member, an e ectromagnet for operatively connecting said members, means for holding said first member in a predetermined position, and means for denergizing said magnet to ermit said first men,- tioned movable mem er to return to its initial position in event of an excessive fiow of current through the motor.

9. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said resistance, means tending to retain said member in its initial position, a movable member for operating said first member, an electromagnet for operatively connecting said members, and an overload magnet for rendering said electromagnet inoperative to permit said first member to return to its initial position in event of an overload on said motor.

10. The combination Witlra motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said resistance, means tending to retain said member in its initial position, a second movable member for operating said first member, a retaining magnet for holding said nrst movable member in a predetermined position, means for operatively connecting said members, and means for disconnecting said members to permit said first member to return to its initial position in event of an excessive current flowing through said motor.

11. The combination with a motor, of'a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said resistance, means tending to retain said member in its initial position, `a second movable member for operating said first member, a retainingl magnet for holding said first member in a predetermined-position, and means operated by said retaining magnet for operatively connecting said movable members.

sistance therefor, Ia movable member for controlllng sald resistance, means tendmg to` .retain said member in its initial position, a

second movable member for operating said first member, a retaining magnet for retaining said first movable member in a predetermined position, means operated by said retaining magnet for operatively connecting said movablemembers, and means for renderin said magnet inoperativeto permit said rst member to return to its initial position in event of an excessive fiow of current through said motor` 13. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said resistance, means tending to retain said member in'its initial position, a second movable member for operating said vfirst member, a retaining magnet for holding said first member in a predetermined position, means operated by said magnet for operatively connecting said members, and means for'denergizing said retaining magnet and permitting said first movable member to I`return to its initial position under predetermined-conditions.

14. The combination with a motor, f an armature resistance, and a field resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature resistance and a second movable member for controlling said field resistance, means tending to retain said first member in its initial position, means for operatively connecting said members for causin said second mentioned member to move sai first member in one direction, While permitting said second member to move in an opposite direction independentl thereof, and means for disconnecting sai members when removing the armature resistance from circuit to permit said member to return to its initial position, in event of an excessive How of current through the motor.

15. The combination with a motor, of an armature resistance, and a field resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature resistance, asecond movable member for controllingvsaid field resistance, electromagnetic means for connecting said members to cause said first member to movein one direction with said second member, while permitting said second member to move in an opposite direction independently thereof, and means for rendering said electromagnetic means inoperative to permit said first mentioned member to move to its initial position in `event of an excessive flow of current through the motor.

16. The combination with a motor, of an armature resistance and a field resistance therefor, a movable member for controllingl said armature resistance, and a second movtioned member to move in one direction with said second mentioned member, While permitting said second mentioned member to move in an opposite direction independently thereof, and means for rendering said magnet inoperative to permit said first member to return to its initial position in event of an excessive flow of current through the motor. 17. The combination With armotor, of an armature resistance and a field resistance therefor, a movable member foi` controlling said armature resistance, a second member for controlling said field resistance, an electromagnet for operatively connecting said members to cause said first mentioned member to move in one direction With said second member, While permitting said second member to move in an opposite direction inde-` pendently thereof, and means for dener izmg said magnet to permit said first mem er to moveto itsinitial position in event of excessive flow of current throughsaid motor. "18. The combination with a motor of an armature resistance and a fie1d"11:es1stance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature resis-tance, a second member for controlling said field resistance, an electromagnet for operatively connecting said members to cause said first member to move in one direction' with said second member, While permitting said second member to move in an opposite direction independently thereof, and an overload magnet for renderingf said electromagnet inoperative to permit said first member to return'to its initial position in event of an overload'on said motor. 19. The eo'mbinationwith a motor,"of an armature resistance and a field resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature' resistance, a second movable member for controlling said fieldresistance, aretaining magnet for holding said first member in. a predetermined position, means for connecting said members to cause said first member to move in one direction with the second member, While permitting the said secondy memberto move in an opposite 'direction independently thereof, and means for disconnecting said members to permit` said first member to return to its initial positionin event of excess fiow of current through the motor. 20. The combination with a motor, of. an armature resistance and a. field resistance therefor, a movable .member for controlling said armature resistance, a second movable member for controlling said field resistance, a retaining magnet for holding said first member in a predetermined position, and means operated 'bv said retaining magnet for connecting sai members to cause said first member to move in one direction with said second member, while permitting said second member to move in an opposite dicessive rection independently thereof.

. 21. The combination with a motor, of an member, While permitting saidsecond mem-- b er to move in an op osite direction independently thereof, an means for rendering said magnet inoperative in event. of an exoW of current through said motor to permit said first movable member to return to its initial position.

22. The combination with a motorof an armature resistance and va field resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature resistance, a second movable member for con'trollin said field resistance, a retaining magnet or holding said first member in a predetermined position, means o erated by said retaining magnet for opera-l tively connecting said members to causesaid first member to move in one direction with said second member, while ermitting said second member to move 1n an opposite direction independently thereof, and means for short circuiting said magnet to ermit said first member to moveto its initia osition from any position to which it may ave been moved. y

23. The combination with a motor, of an armature vresistance and a field resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature resistance, and asecond movable ymember for controlling said field resistance, electroma netic means for operatively connecting said members to cause said first mentioned member'to move in'one direction With said second member, While permitting' said second member to move in an opposite direction independently thereof, means forrendering said second mentioned member ineffective yin controlling its refistance when the tWo members are `moved together, and means for rendering said electromagnetic means inoperative to permit said first member to return to its initial position from any position to which it may have been moved. in event of an excessive flow of cur-l rent through said motor.

24, The combination with a motor, of an armature resistancepand a field resistance thereof, for"` a movable member for controlling said armature resistance, a second movable member for controlling said field resistance, electromagnetic means for operatively connecting said members, to *cause said first member to move in one direction with said second member While permitting said second memberto move in an opposite direction independently thereof, means controlled by said first member for rendering Asaid second member ineffective in control-v ling its resistance when the two members are moved together, and means for rendering said electromagnetic means inoperative to permit said first movable member to return to its initial position from any position to which it may be moved in eventr of an excessive flow of current through said motor.y

25. Thecombination With a motor, of an armature resistance. and a field resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature resistance, a second movable member for controlling said field resistance,

i means for operatively connecting said mem'- bers to cause said first member to move the said second member in one direction, While permitting said-second member' to move in an opposite direction independently thereof, means for short circuiting said field resistance,

AWhile the two members are being moved togetlier, and means for disconnecting said members to permit said -first member to return to its initial position from any position it may have assumed in event of an excessive flow of current through said motor or failure of the line voltage.

26. The combination with a motor, of an armature resistance and a field resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said armature resistance, a second' movable member for controlling said field resistance,

means for connecting said members to cause said first member to move in one direction with said second member, While permitting said second member to move' in an opposite direction independently thereof, means controlled by said first member for short circuiting the field resistance While the two tion, means operated b y said retaining magnet for operatively connecting said members ,to cause said first member to Imove in one direction with said second member while permitting said second member to move in al reverse direction independently thereof, and' means for rendering said retaining magnetinoperative to permit said first member tov move to its initial position from any position `to which it may have been moved in event of an excessive flow of current through the motor or failure of the line voltage.

28. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said resistance, means for oper- 'ating said movable member, and means forV retaining saidmovable member in a predetermined position, engaging means carried by said movable member for engaging either saidoperating or retaining means, means formoving and holding said engaging means in operative position, and means for rendering the same inoperative to permit said engaging `means to be disconnected andvallowl said movable `member to return to itsv initial po' sition from any position to which it may `have been moved in event of an excessive flow of current through the motor or failureof the line voltage. l

29. The combination with a motor, of a resistance therefor, a movable member for controlling said resistance, means for operating said movable member, means for retaining said movable member in 4a predetermined position, engagin means carried by said movable member or engaging either said operating means or retaining means, an electromagnet for moving and holding said engaging means in operative position and means for rendering said electromagnet inoperative, to permit said enga ing means to disconnect from either of said moving or holding means and allow said movable meniberto return to its initial position from .any position it ma have assumed, inevent of an excessive ow of current through said motor or failure of the line voltage.

ln Witness whereof, .l have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of two Wit HGSSGS.

ALBERT J. HCR'ION. llitnesses: I

CHARLES B. BAKER, FAUK DELL-Avio.

ai)l 

